Convertible midriff dress



I g- 6, 1945- 'r. ORESMAN CONVERTIBLE MIDRIFF DRESS Filed May 22, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 1 FWEQDQEE W Aug. 6, 1945. I ORESMAN 2,405,368

CONVERTIBLE MIDRIFF DRESS Filed May 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patente dAug. 6, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVERTIBLE MIDRIFF DRESSTheodore Oresman, St. Louis, Mo.

Application May 22, 1944, Serial No. 536,769

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to feminine apparel and has more specificreference to a multiple purpose two-piece convertible ensemble which maybe conveniently identified as a midriff dress.

The obvious purpose of the invention is to provide a novel and improveddress ensemble characterized by a skirt and a separate bodice, theseparts having associated therewith a wide body embracing belt of areadily attachable and removable type, the arrangement of parts beingsuch that the bodice and skirt may be worn in a manner to either exposeor conceal the midriff region, this depending on the discretion of thewearer.

In reducing to practice the preferred principles of the invention, Ihave adopted complemental parts which lend themselves admirably well tothe specific purposes for which they are individually and collectivelyintended, thi to provide the wearer with an ensemble having a greaterrange of utility.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same Figure 1 is a front elevational view showingthe skirt and bodice as they are utilized when spacedly separated toexpose the midrifi.

Figure 2 is a view like Figure 1 with the waist beltinuse.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the bodice.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of a fragmentary character showingthe construction and arrangement of the encircling bands as they areseen from the rear.

Figure 5 is a view like Figure 4 showing the adjoining body band or beltin position.

Figure 6 is a detail plan or elevational view of the belt per se.

In the drawings, the bodice or blouse is denoted by the numeral 1. Thismay be of any appropriate material and of suitable design. The mainportion 8 is fashioned and adjoined to a relatively narrow bodyencircling band 9, this having its front ends overlapped and securedtogether by buttons or equivalent fasteners 1!]. As seen in Figures 3and 4, I provide a pair of fixed spaced buttons II on the rear sidethereof.

The skirt I2 i also of appropriate material and form and it includes arelatively narrow Waistencircling band IS with a single button orappropriate fastener Mfor the free ends thereof.

The selectively usable belt i indicated at l5 and is of theconfiguration shown in Figure 6. That is to say, it comprises arelatively narrow central portion 16 having button-holes ll, thesearranged to engage the buttons ll. The ends are enlarged to provide thedesired fashionable appearance as indicated at l8 and IS. The end 19 isprovided with a button-hole 20, this to engage the oversized button 2|on the opposite end.

It is evident, that the ensemble may be worn to expose the midriff withthe part 1 and I2 spaced as shown in Figure 1. Or, it may bealternatively worn as shown in Figure 2. Reference being had at thistime to Figure 5, it will be seen that the buttonholes I! on theintermediate rear portion l6 of the belt are attached to the buttons II.This serves as the sole means for attaching the belt to the bodice. Thelower edge surrounds the waist band l3. In fact both bands 9 and l3 arecovered by the belt when the free ends are buttoned together as shown inFigure 2.

It is submitted that a combination convertible ensemble of the form andfashion herein shown is a unique assemblage. The convertible and duplexpossibilities enable it practical use by discreet wearers. One need onlyglance at the illustrations depicted in Figures 1 and 2 to appreciatethat we are here concerned with an innovation in feminine apparel. Thindividual collectively and selectively usable parts are of utmostsimplicity and the appearance in either instance is both finished andcalculated to provide eye-appeal.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelate will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrangement of details comingwithin the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actualpractice, if desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A convertible midriff dress ensemble, of the type shown and described,having a relatively narrow body encircling waistband, a companion bodicein the form of a waist, said waist having a relatively narrow bodyencircling waistband with separable overlapping free end portions, saidfree end portions being separably buttoned, and a pair of longitudinallyspaced buttons exteriorly on the rear portion of said waistband toaccomhaving separable fasteners between its coacting free ends, andbeing of a width to overlap and conceal both of said waistbands, andbeing further provided on a central rear portion with button holesadapted to fasten on the aforementioned buttons carried by the rearcentral portion of the waistbands of said bodice.

THEODORE ORESMAN.

